Stocking suspending device



Feb. 1,1944.v y G, E. DUNN ETAL v STOCKING SUSPEvNDING DEVICE Filed Dec.5, 1940v 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTORS: G60 e ZTL/z/z H6 l l Il BY l Feb.1, 1944. G, E` DUNN E, 2,340,520

STOCKING SUSPENDING DEVICE Filed. Dec. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nif 3Qwi mn/M Patented Feb. 1, 1944 sTocxmG sUsPENnmG DEVICE George E. Dunnand Henry Richter, Kankakee, lll., assignors to Paramount TextileMachinery Co., Chicago, lll.

Application December-5, 1940, Serial No. 368,647

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for suspending textile articles whilethey undergo a treating process, and has more particular relation to adevice to support stockings while being subjected to the action of atreating medium. For example, in preparing stockings knitted from nylon(one of a group of synthetic linear condensation fiberformingpolyamides) for the dyeing operation they are, in one known process.subjected to a presetting operation by exposing the article to theaction of water vapor or steam confined in a closed chamber.

'Ihis application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial Number351,654, filed August 7,

1940, by George E. Dunn and Henry Richter. In that case there isdisclosed an apparatus for, and method of supporting nylon stockings fora presetting operation on suspending-units which receive the stockingsby impalement of thetoe portion thereof upon points on the suspendingunit, and a simple device of that nature is shown therein. The presentapplication relates to improvements in suspending units of thatcharacter.

As pointed out in the aforementioned application, one method ofsupporting the stockings is by impaling the toe portion thereof on aneedle, the point passing between the loops of the knit fabric, wherebyeach stocking hangs in a loose unstressed condition for maximum treatingemciency, or else holding the stocking by gripping a minute area of thefabric. For convenience in production, each suspending unit is adaptedto accommodate a relatively small number of stockings as, for example,two dozen pairs or twenty-four stockings. After being charged, .a numberof these units are placed in a suitable cabinet for the treatingprocess.

The principal object of this invention is the provision in a device ofthe character described of improved means for supporting the impalingpoints for ease in initial assembly and replacement.

Another object is the mounting of the points in a position designed formaximum convenience of the operative.

Still another object is the provision of novel means for retaining theneedle shroud in inoperative position and returning the same tooperative position.

A further object is to provide means for stripping by a single motionall of the stockings held on the unit.

In a modified form of the device the principal object is to providenovel fabric gripping members cooperating with a removable opposedgripping surface.

Further aims will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device showing the stockings inposition, the needle protecting shroud over the needles and the stripperin its lowermost position;

Figure 2 shows the stripper in its uppermost position and the stockingsin process of being stripped;

Figure 3 is a partial medial cross section of the device as shown inFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a detail on a somewhat enlarged scale showing the operatingrelationship of the shroud and its spring;

Figure 7 is a cross section on the line 'I-l of Figure 4; and

' Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Referring to Figures l, 2 and 3, II represents the spindle of thedevice, which is in the form of a cylindrical rod terminating at itsupper end in an integral collar I2 of somewhat increased diameter.

Spindle I I terminates at its lower end in a reduced threaded portionI3, on which is mounted the needle clamping assembly generallyrepresented as I4. Assembly I4 comprises a central core I5 formed as afrustum of a cone and drilled out as at I6 with a plurality of holes, toreduce the weight thereof. member I5 is a plurality of flutes 2isubstantially of senil-circular cross section (Figures 7 and 8) adaptedto partially receive a plurality of impaling points or needles 22, therebeing in this instance six such needles, as shown in Figure 4, althoughthe number may be varied at will as will be obvious. Located adjacentthe bottom face of the member I5 is a cup-shaped retaining ring 23formed with holes 24 similar to and for the same purpose as the holesI6. The rim 25 of the ring 23 is co-extensive with the peripheral areaoi memberIS and embraces the plurality of needles 22 (Figure 7) Acentral hole in ring 23 fits over the reduced portion I3 and a cap nut26 is screwed on the threaded portion thereof to clamp the member i5 andring 23-together thereby to clamp the needles 22 in their properposition. Inasmuch as the periphery of the member I5 is part of aconical surface, needles 22 are given an outward inclination tofacilitate the placing of the stockingthereover by the operative.Furthermore, the juxtaposed sloping faces of member I5 and ring 23together form a wedging contact against the intervening needles 22 tohold them firmly in their predetermined position. As will be seen fromFigures 3 and 7 a slight clearance is allowed between member I5 and ring23 to permit the aforesaid clamping action. Needles 22 are On theperiphery of the preferably formed of stainless steel wire or similarstii'l, non-corrosive material.

Surrounding the spindle Il and in axially sliding relationship therewithis the tube 3|, having amxed thereto at its lower extremity the stripperplate 32, substantially of inverted cup-shape and provided with a hub 33to maintain the same on tube 3|, tube 3| and hub 33 being joined bysoldering, riveting, or any equivalent means. Tube 3| is provided at itsupper end with a collar 34 aillxed thereto and in one side with anextended axial slot 35 for clearance around the spring 33. Said spring33 is of the umbrella type and soldered or otherwise fastened at 31 tothe spindle I I, being received in an axial groove 33 formed therein. Ahole 4I diametrally through the spindle Il receives the inturnedextremity 42 of spring 33 to guide the same at its upper end and preventdislocation thereof from its slot 33. Stripper 32 is provided with aplurality of substantially triangular openings 43 to lessen the weightthereof and through which the needles 22 may pass when the said plate isin its lowermost position.

Mounted outside the tube 3|, and slidable with respect thereto by meansof hole 33 is the needle protecting shroud 5I, also substantially ofinverted cup shape and provided with rim 53 and hub 52 to maintainalignment thereof with respect to tube 3l. Said shroud is also formedwith holes 54 (Figure 5) to lessen the weight thereof. Referring toFigures 5 and 6, it will be noted that the lower side of said hub at theedge of the hole 55 is chamfered as at 53 for a purpose to be described.

Threadedly engaged with the upper extremity of the spindle is thesupporting hook 51 by which the entire assembly may be carried on astand after being charged by the operator and by which the device may besuspended in the treating chamber.

Operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the unit is devoidof stockings, that is to say, has just been stripped f its load, theshroud will be in the dotted line position of Figure 1 leaving theneedles exposed, the stripping plate 32 and the sleeve 3| will be intheir respective lowermost positions as shown in Figure 1.

The operator then charges the unit by impaling, say four stockings oneach needle 22, the entire device being held for this purpose in aspring clamp of any convenient type, as for example that shown inApplication Serial Number 351,654, hereinbefore referred to. Preferablythe extreme tip of the toe of the stocking including its heavierreinforced fabric is engaged on the needle. After charging, the operatorgrasps the shroud 5I and by rotating it slightly, the chamfered portion53 will, by the cam action thereof against the portion 42, direct thespring 33 inwardly, the inturned portion 42 entering the hole 4I and theremainder of the spring entering the groove 38, so that shroud 5I may bemoved down on sleeve 3| to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1,in which position the shroud protects the needle points, to obviateaccidental in-l jury to the operative. Hub 33 serves as a stop to limitthe downward movement of shroud 5|. The unit is now ready fortransference to the treating chamber.

After the treatment has been concluded, each unit is held in the hand,as for example, by-

means ot hook 51, and the operative, with the other hand (see Figure 2)grasps the member 5| and raises it to its uppermost position, as shownby full lines in Figure 2. When the upper surface of shroud 3| strikescollar34 it raises the tube 3| and with it the stripper 32, spring 33compressing to inward position to permit pas'- sage of the shroud. This'upward movement of the stripper will cause the rim thereof (Figure 4)to shed the stockings from the points, whereupon they fall into a bag,or other convenient container underneath. The shroud is then released,whereupon it will drop back to rest upon the spring 33, as shown inFigure 1, thereby releasing the tube 3| and stripper 32 to normalposition. ready for another charge.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the important feature of theinvention is the combined action of raising the protecting shroud andstripping plate in one motion, the automatic retention of the shroud inits upper position and the return of the stripper to its proper normalposition without further eilort on the part of the operative, gravitybeing relied upon solely.

A further important feature resides in the particular nature of thespring 33 and chamfer 53 to enable the spring to be compressed toreleased position by a partial twist of the shroud.

Another important feature resides in the novel needle positioning andretaining elements, whereby the same may be quickly assembledl orremoved, and the cooperation of two engaging conical surfaces to providea clamping action on the needles while holding them in the mostconvenient position for the operative, as clearly brought out in Figure7.

`Further advantages reside in the use of extremely light parts, therebymaking for economy of manufacture and ease of operation.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a central support; a plurality ofpointed elements mounted on said support for carrying by impalementthereon a plurality of articles; means common to all of said elementsfor stripping said articles from said elements; and a shield for saidelements slidable with respect to said support and adapted to be movedfrom element shielding position'to a position clear of said elements toeffect actuation of the stripping means. f

2. In a device of the class described, a central I support; a pluralityof pointed elements mounted on said support for carrying by impalementthereon a plurality of articles; means common to all of said elementsfor stripping said articles from said positions; means carried on saidsupport to maintain said shield in normal position, said shield beingprovided with a cam surface adapted to engage said means for releasingsaid means to permit movement of said shield to shielding position.GEORGE E. DUNN. HENRY RICHTER.

